Timed tripping device



- P 1938- J. w. OGDEN TIMED TRIPPING DEVICE 5 sheets sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1936 TAX .1 PAID TAX .10 PAID A INVENTOR.

cab 0349/7 BY 2 ATTORNEY.

pt- J. w. OGDEN 2,130,897

TIMED TRIPPING. DEVICE Filed June 9, 1956 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. J6 %:0/5 M0949 7 eazm- A TTORNE Y.

l J. w. OGDEN 2,130,897

TIMED TRI PPI NG DEVICE Filed June 9, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. c/Saa M @946? A TTORNEK Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIMED TRIPPING DEVICE Application June 9, 1936, Serial No. 84,286

21 Claims.

This invention relates toa machine for printing stamp impressions on letters and the like, and more particularly ,to the means for tripping or actuating the printing device, which means is adapted to be controlled to delay the actual printing operation for ,a predetermined period after the normal trip, which is actuated by means of an approaching letter, is effected.

Thedevice ofthis invention is adapted for use with a class of machines commonly known as metered mailing machines and is particularly arranged for use with-the type of machine which is illustrated and described in U. S. Letters Patent Reissue No. 15,734.

.In a machine of this type a value stamp is printed upon letters which are conveyed pasta printing position and the money value thereof is registered in a metering device. A tripmember which is positioned in the path of. the appreaching letters is adapted, when engaged by ,a letter, to trip a clutch, whereby the printing de vice will be operatedto print the said stamp impression, which process is repeated for each letter moved into engagement with the trip.

In the device of this invention, means is providedfor controlling the position of one or more imprints upon a letter, which device generally comprises a timing element arranged in a cooperative relation between the letter actuated trip member and the printing member actuating means, and which when actuated by the letter trip is adapted to delay the operation of the printing member for a predetermined period or until the letter has advanced to a desired position for the reception of the imprint.

it is the principal object of this invention therefore, to provide a timing device to set the printing member in operation, which is adapted to be actuated by a letter tripping device.

It is a. further object ,to provide means whereby an imprint may be made on a letter or .other article in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein;

Fig. 1 isa plan view showing a portion of a metered mailing machine immediately surrounding the printing device, including the envelope tripping means also the trip settingmeans;

Fig.2 is a front elevational view looking in the direction of arrow 2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 ofFig. 2 particularly for the purpose of showing the tripping device and parts associated with the main clutch;

vFig. 4 is a plan sectional view of the printing die including the postmark die;

Fig. 5 is a, front elevational view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig.2 of the delayed tripping unit;

Fig. 6 is a plan sectional view taken substantially along the line .66 of Fig. 5 showing the delayed tripping unit with the trip roller in its #1 tripping position and thetrip actuating member about .to be tripped by an approaching letter;

Fig. '7 is a plan sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 5 with the parts in their normal untripped position and particularly showing a latch structure which is associated with the secondary clutch mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the ,line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the same plane asFig. 6 with parts broken away and showing the trip actuating member in a tripped position as caused by the passing letter and further showing the latch mechanism associated with the secondary clutch in a released position;

Fig. 10 is ,a horizontal or plan sectional view taken on substantially the same plane as Fig. 6 with parts broken away and showing the clutch tripping roller, which is adapted to trip the main clutch, as having moved ,past the clutch tripping cam member;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view showing a portion of a letter with a single stamp impression and postmark impression thereon;

Fig. 12 is a similar view to that of Fig. 11 showing a plurality of stamped impressions also the postmark stamp thereon;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail view showing a portion of a tax receipt card or the like with tax impressions thereon;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detail view showing a modified arrangement of adjustment for the secondary clutch; and

in the accompanying drawings,

Referring to Fig. 1 letters L are conveyed from .a source of supply by means of feed rollers [5,

between suitable guides [4, past a trip finger l6,

then between a printing die I! and an impression.

roller l8 to receive a stamp impression. The letter is then ejected by means of ejector rollers I9|9 to a suitable receiver or stacker, not shown.

The trip finger 16, which is tripped when engaged by a letter, is indirectly connected with a main clutch member 2!, Figs. 2 and 3, which clutch member is directly connected with the printing die member I1 and .is adapted to be driven by means of a continuously driven gear 22 when tripped. Associated with said main clutch member 2i is a stop arm 23 Fig. 3 which forms one arm of a three armed rocker member 24. Another arm 25 extends outward from said rocker member 24 and a third arm 26 extends substantially downward therefrom. The clutch 2| isnormally urged to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3 and, upon release of the stop arm 23 from its engagement with a shoulder portion 27a of a flange 21 .on said clutch member 2i, said clutch will rotate through one revolution to thereby rotate the printing die i! through one revolution. The rocker member. 24 is normally urged to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction through the spring actuated structure indicated at 28, which is adapted'to apply: a pressure against the outwardly projecting arm 25 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Associated with the rocker member 24 is an abutment member 29 which is pivotally mounted upon a-shaft 3| and has a roller. 32 .rotatably mounted upon one end of an arm 33, which roller is adapted to be normally maintained in engagement with a roller 34 mounted on the arm 25 of said rocker member 24. The abutment roller 32 is normally maintained in an abutment position by means'of a spring 35, which spring normally maintains a downwardly extending arm 36 of the abutment member 29 against a fixed stop 31. 7 Upon rocking said abutment arm 29 from the full line position of Fig. 3 .to the dotted line position, the rocker arm 24 will be urged from its full line position to the dotted line position by means of the spring actuated structure 28, whereupon the clutch 2! will be released and will rotate through one cycle or revolution. The limit of said clutch movement is controlled by means of a roller 38 mounted on the arm 26, which is adapted to be engaged by the flange 21 to rock the stop arm 23 into the path of the shoulder 21a of said flange. I

,Also connected with the arm 36 is a pull rod 55 which has a shoulder portion 4! on its opposite end yieldably maintained in contact with the end of a trip arm 42 by means of a spring 43.

, The trip arm 42 is mountedupon a shaft 44,

upon which shaft the trip finger i6 is also mounted.

The structure as thus far described is the same as that described in said Reissue Patent No. 15,734. As utilized in the structure of said pat- A ent, the rocking of the trip finger l6, when enaged by a letter, was adapted to rocl; the shaft 44 which in turn would rock the trip arm 42 todirectly actuate the clutch tripor rocking member 24.

In the device of this invention however, an intermediate or secondary clutch device is provided for the purpose of delayingthe tripping action of the trip arm 42.

To obtain the latter result, the trip finger I is freely mounted to rotate upon the shaft 44, through the engagement of a boss I60, therewith,

and has a keyed connection at 44 with a sleeve 45 also. on said shaft 44, as best shown in Fig. 5. Said sleeve is also keyed at 58 to a boss portion 46a of a lever 46 at the lower end thereof, which lever has mounted upon its lower surface, a latch tripping arm 41. See Figs. 5, 7 and 9. Therefore, upon operation of the trip finger it, by means of the engagement of a letter therewith, the movement of said trip finger 15 will directly efiect the operation of the latch tripping arm 41. The secondary clutch is controlled by said latch arm 41 and includes a ratchet gear 48, having ,trunnions 8llll rotatably supported in bearings 5i5l, which ratchet is continuously driven by means of a gear 49 to which it is adapted to be attached, as by means of a pin 30. See Figs. 8 and 9.

As best shown in Fig. 7, suitable driving pawls 52-52 are pivotally mounted upon pins 5353, which pins have their opposite ends secured in upper and lower plates 54-54, positioned above and at the lower end of the ratchet gear 48.

The pawls 52-52 are normally held out of engagement withthe ratchet gear 48, by means of a bail 55 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 55. and has an extended finger 57 which is normally engaged with the fixed end of a latch member 58.

Said latch member is rotatably mounted upon it will now be seen that upon engagement of a letter with the trip finger 16, the sleeve and lever 4E,wil1 be rocked from the position illustrated in Fig. '7 to the position of Fig. 9 and thereby cause the latch tripping arm 4! to withdraw the latch member 58 from its engagement with the finger portion 51 of the bail and permit the pawls 52-52 to become engaged in driving relation with the rotating ratchet wheel 48. Upon said pawl engagement the plates 54-54 will be rotated through one revolution, the limit of movement being controlled by means of the latch member 58 upon returning to its normal position. A back stop 86 is also provided which is adapted to engage a notch 8'! in the lower plate 54 to prevent any rebound. A plate 54, which is positioned directly above the upper plate 54 and which is connected therewith by means of a pin 56, as shown in Fig. 8, will also be rotated.

' Associated with this last mentioned plate 64 is the means which is provided for delaying the trip action'of the main clutch 2i Said means includes a disk 65, having a central hub portion 66 proa rotatable and vertically slidable relation within a bushing 51, rotatably supported in a bracket 68. A hand knob I59 is provided at the upper end of said hub portion by means of which the disk 65 is adapted to be raised out of contact relation with its adjacent plate 64. A spring H is provided around the hub portion 66 to effect a tension between the lower flanged end of the bushing 61 and the upper surface of a disk 65, to thereby force the disk 65 against the plate 64. Another spring 83 is tensioned against the upper surface of the plate 64 within a recess in the hub 5| to prevent the plate 64 from being withdrawn with the disk 65 when said disk 65 is raised by the knob 59.

A plurality of openings 12 are arranged in the plate 64 in a manner indicated in Fig. 9. Associated with said openings 12 is a detent pin 13 which is fixed within the disk 65 and is adapted to be engaged with any one of said openings 12 when the upper plate 65 is raised by the knob '69 and rotated. A roller 14 is also carried by the disk '65 on its upper surface, the same being mounted upon a pin l5 which is secured within the disk 65.

By means of this arrangement, it will be seen I that the roller 14 may be placed in any one of a plurality of positions. An adjustment of the position of the roller is made by pulling upward upon the knob 69 to withdraw the detent pin 13 from engagement with an opening 12,'then rotating said knob to bring the detent pin 13 into engagement with another of the openings 12. An

indicator arrow 88 may be provided on the knob -69, to cooperate with a graduated portion indicated by the positions 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the upper face-of the bracket 68, Fig. 1, to assist in adjusting the position of the detent 13.

Associated with said roller 14 is a cam member 16 which is formed as part of an arm 11, which arm is pinned to the shaft 44 as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The cam '16 is normally maintained in the path of the roller 14, as in Fig. 6. When a tripping operation of the trip finger I6 is effected by the engagement of a letter therewith, the secondary clutch member will be tripped to cause the disk 65 to be rotated. The roller 14, upon reaching the cam member 16, will cause the arm TI to be rocked from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position in Fig. 10. The arm TI and the aforementioned trip 'arm 42, Fig. 3, are both pinned to the shaft 44, therefore, the rocking of said arm '11 will cause the trip arm 42 to be rocked from the full line position of Fig. 3 to the dotted line position, which, through the rocking of the abutment member 29, will cause the rocker member 24 to be rocked about its axis to release the main clutch 2|.

When the disk 65 is adjusted so as to maintain the roller 14 in engagement with the cam member 16 as shown in Fig. '6, during the normal rest period, the tripping of the secondary clutch will immediately effect the trippingof the main clutch 2-1 after the engagement of a letter with the trip finger l6, which. action will result in the printing of a stamp impression and postmark impression upon the letter in the position shown in Fig. '11. The stamp impression is made from the die indicated at S, Fig. 4, and the postmark impression is made from the die P which is removably mounted in the die support. When the position of the roller 14 is adjusted to any of the other positions, as provided for in the particular structure illustrated, the stamped impression may be printed at any one of the positions indicated at A, B, C, or D as shown in Fig. 12. If only a single stamp impression is taken'in either of these positions the postmark stamp will also be printed.

It is also possible to print a plurality of stamped impressions with a single postmark stamp impression in the particular order shown in Fig. 12

by removing the postmark die P from the die support and permitting the operation of the machine for the printing of the stamp in the positions A, B, and C during three different runs of the letter thru the machine, then reinserting the postmark die P before printing the fourth stamp impression D, which impression will then be accompanied by the postmark impression.

After the tripping and printing operations are effected, .the latch member 58, which is maintained in 2. released position by the periphery of the upper plate 54, as in Fig. 10, will be restored to its original latching position by the action of the spring '59 when a cut away portion of the plate 54, indicated at 18, Fig. 10, passes the engaging end of the latch member. A stop Iii limits the return movement and fixes the position of the latch member in the path of the bail finger 51 to permit the latch member to be engaged by said finger 51 afterthe secondary clutch has completed one full revolution.

The latch tripping arm 41, being controlled by the position of the trip finger It, will thus remain in its tripped position until the end of the letter passes said trip finger. This time will vary in accordance with the different lengths of envelopes used, to the extent that the latch tripping arm '41 may be moved to its normal set position either before or after a printing operation is completed. If it is moved after a printing operation is completed, the latch member 58 will have been restored to its set position before the movement of the tripping arm 41, but upon reaching the reset position, the said tripping arm will snap over the pin 62 to bring the latch or shoulder portion 19 thereof into operative relation with said pin 62. The position of the shoulder 58 will be determined by the position of the trip finger l6 and the position of the trip finger is determined by the position of trip arm 42, Fig. 3, in conjunction with the shoulder 4! rod 39.

Instead of providing a detent pin 13 in the plate 65 and openings 12 in the plate 64, each of said plates 64 and 65 may be provided with ratchet teeth to provide a ratchet clutch as indicated in Fig. 14, each of the plates 64 and 65 being indicated here as 64a and 65a respectively. This will permit of a fine adjustment which will be particularly useful for conditions where a stamp impression is to be placed within a certain area or within a certain fixed distance with respect to the edge of the letter or other articles such as a card. For example, it may be desired to utilize the machine for the printing of tax stamps upon cards which have predetermined positions for said stamps as provided for by the ruled boxes or spaces as indicated on the card in Fig. 13.

If desired the roller may also be adjusted individually by arranging same in a manner indicated in Fig. 15, wherein the roller indicated as 74a is mounted on a sleeve 84 and said sleeve is adapted to be adjusted within a slot 85 in a disk 65b. By means of a bolt 36 which is passed through the sleeve and seated in the disk 651), the said sleeve is adapted to be clamped in an adjusted position when a nut 8'! is tightened on said bolt.

It will thus be seen that a device of this character can be made very flexible and lends itself to the printing on various articles, wherein a tripping device is to be actuated by the leading of the pull e;

edge of an article which is being moved to a printing position.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a printing member adapted to print impressions upon moving articles, a trip member actuated by said articles, a second trip member controlled by said first trip member and arranged to release said printing member to effect a printing opera; tion on an article, and means to adjustably time the operation of said second trip member, Whereby impressions may be made within predetermined positions in accord with the said adjustment.

2. In a device of the character described, a printing member, means to move articles to a printing position, a tripping member operable upon engagement of an article therewith, printing member actuating means, and a second tripping member cooperating vvith said first tripping member to delay the operation of said printing member by the actuating means.

3. In a mailing machine, a printing member arranged to print stamp impressions upon letters, means to move the letters to a printing position, a drive to efiect a printing operation, a tripping device arranged in the path of the moving letters and operable upon engagement of a letter therewith, and means controlled by said tripping device to delay the effective printing operation of said printing member after tripping is effected.

4. In a device of the character described, a printing member arranged to print an impression on articles which are moved to a printing position, a tripping member operable upon engagement of an article therewith, and adjustable printing member releasing means controlled by the tripping member arranged to efiect the printing of an impression in any one of a number of predetermined positions on the article.

5. In a mailing machine, a printing member arranged to print a stamp impression upon letters when the letters are moved to a printing position, means to effect a printing operation including one tripping device operable upon engagement of a letter therewith and a second tripping device controlled by the first tripping device, and means to control the time for actuating the second printing device, whereby the stamp impression may be placed in one of a plurality of predetermined positions within a predetermined area on said letters.

6. In a mailing machine, a printing member arranged to print a stamp impression upon letters when the letters are moved to a printing position, means to effect a printing operation including one tripping device operable upon engagement of a letter therewith and a second tripping device controlled by the first tripping device, and means including a clutch associated with the second tripping device and having an adjustable striker member associated therewith to provide for the tripping of the printing member, whereby the stamp impression may be placed in any desired position within a predetermined area on said letters.

7. In a mailing machine, a printing member arranged to print a stamp impression upon letters when the letters are moved to a printing position, means to effect a printing operation including a tripping device operable upon engagement of a letter therewith, an adjustable trip member actuated by said first named tripping device, and means associated with said adjustable trip member to start the operation of the printing member at a predetermined period after engagement of the letter with the first named tripping device.

8. In a mailing machine, a printing member arranged to print a stamp impression upon letters when the letters are moved to a printing position, means including a clutch device associated with the printing member to effect a printing operation, a tripping device operable upon engagement of a letter therewith, and means including a second clutch device controlled by said tripping device and interposed between said first named clutch and tripping device to delay the operation of the first named clutch after tripping by means of the letter is efiected.

9. In a device of the character described, a printing member, means including a clutch to control said printing member to effect a printing operation on an article, a tripping member, a second clutch interposed between said tripping member and first named clutch, and means to adjust the operation of said second clutch, whereby impressions may be made within predetermined positions in accord with the said adjustment.

10. In a device of the character described, a printing member, means including a clutch drive to control said printing member to effect a printing operation on an article, a tripping member operable upon engagement of an article therewith, a secondary clutch tripping means operable by said tripping member, and an adjustable trip member associated with means to variably adjust said secondary clutch tripping means, whereby impressions may be made within predetermined positions in accord with the said adjustment.

11. In a printing device having a printing member normally maintained in a rest position, means for moving articles into printing relation with the printing member, an actuating member arranged in an uncoupled relation with the printing member and operable to rotate said printing member upon the approach of an article to the printing position, a tripping member operable when engaged by an article, and means for timing the coupling of the actuating member with respect to the action of the tripping member whereby printing is efiected at one of a plurality of predetermined positions on each article.

12. In a printing device having a printing member normally maintained in a rest position, means for moving articles into printing relation with the printing member, an actuating member including a clutch adapted to be coupled with the printing member and operable to rotate said printing member upon the approach of an article to the printing position, a tripping member operable when engaged by a letter, and means including a manually adjustable. clutch tripping member for timing the coupling of the actuating member with respect to the action of the tripping member whereby printing is effected at one of a plurality of predetermined positions on each article.

13. In a printing device having a printing member and a drive to actuate same, means for moving articles into printing relation with the printing member, a clutch associated with the drive and adapted to be tripped to efiect a printing operation whenthe article has reached aspredetermined position with relation to the printing member, a trip member positioned in the path of said moving articles, and means associated with the trip member and clutch to delay the tripping of the clutch for a predetermined period after the trip member is engaged by an article.

14. In a printing device having a rotary printing member and a drive to rotate same, means for moving articles into printing relation with the printing member, a clutch associated with the drive and adapted tobe tripped to efiect a printing operation when the article has reached a predetermined position with relation to the printing member, a trip member positioned in the path of said moving articles, and manually adjustable means interposed between the trip member and clutch to delay the tripping of the clutch for a predetermined period after the trip member is engaged by an article.

15. In a device of the character described having a printing member normally maintained in a rest position, means for moving articles into printing relation with the printing member, a drive, a clutch interposed between said drive and printing member, a trip associated with said clutch, a second clutch, a continuously driven member associated with the second clutch, a latch normally maintaining the second clutch in a rest position, a latch actuating member associated with the moving articles and arranged to release the second clutch member upon contact by an article, and an adjustable trip actuating member movable with the continuously driven member to engage the said trip after the release of the latch to thereby next release the first named clutch member.

16. In a device of the character described, a printing member arranged to print an impression on articles which are moved to a printing position, a tripping member operable upon engagement of an article therewith, a main clutch member associated with the printing member and normally maintained in a non-driving relation, a secondary clutch associated with the tripping member, a latch to normally maintain said secondary clutch in a non-driving position, a latch tripping member movable with the first named tripping member to release said latch and thereby trip said secondary clutch, a main clutch tripping means, and means movable with the secondary clutch to actuate the main clutch tripping means.

1'7. In a device of the character described, a printing member arranged to print an impression on articles which are moved to a printing position, a tripping member operable upon engagement of an article therewith, a main clutch member associated with the printing member and normally maintained in a non-driving relation, a secondary clutch associated with the tripping member, a latch to normally maintain said secondary clutch in a non-driving position, a latch tripping member movable with the first named tripping member to release said latch and thereby trip said secondary clutch, a main clutch tripping means, and a manually adjustable member movable with the secondary clutch to actuate the main clutch tripping means.

18. In a device of the character described, a printing member arranged to print an impression on articles which are moved to a printing position,

a tripping member operable upon engagement of an article therewith, a main clutch member associated with the printing member and normally maintained in a non-driving relation, a secondary clutch including a continuously rotatable ratchet gear associated with the tripping member, pawls arranged to coact with said ratchet gear, a latch to normally maintain said pawls free from engagement with the ratchet gear, a latch tripping member movable with the first named tripping member to release said latch and thereby permit the engagement of the pawls with the ratchet to efiect the drive of the secondary clutch, a main clutch tripping means, and means movable with the secondary clutch to actuate the main clutch tripping means.

19. In a device of the character described, a printing member arranged to print an impression on articles which are moved to a printing position, a tripping member operable upon engagement of an article therewith, a main clutch member associated with the printing member and normally maintained in a non-driving relation, a secondary clutch associated with the tripping member, a latch to maintain one portion of said secondary clutch in a rest position, a latch tripping member movable with the first named tripping member to trip said secondary clutch and cause the drive of the normally non-driven portion, a striker member movable with said normally non-driven portion when the secondary clutch is driven, a main clutch tripping means, and means whereby the striker member is adapted to actuate the main clutch tripping means a predetermined period after the latch is tripped.

20. In a device for marking moving articles, a printing member, a drive, a clutch associated with said printing member, a stop to normally retain said clutch in a rest position and drive and adapted to be tripped to effect a printing operation when the article has reached a predetermined position with relation to the printing member, a trip member adapted to be actuated by contact of the articles therewith, and connections between said trip member and clutch stop including means whereby the tripping of the clutch is delayed until the article has advanced to a printing position.

21. In a printing device having a rotary printing member and a drive to rotate same, means for moving articles into printing relation with the printing member, a clutch associated with the drive and adapted to be tripped to effect a printing operation when the article has reached a predetermined position with relation to the printing member, a trip member positioned in the path of said moving articles, and means including an adjustable trip member interposed between the first named trip member and clutch to delay the tripping of the clutch for a predetermined period after the trip actuating member is engaged by an article.

JACOB W. OGDEN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,150,897, September 20, 1958.

JACOB W. OGDEN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, sec-- ond colilmn, lines 59130112; claim 20, strike out the words "and drive and adapted to be tripped to effect a printing operation when the article has reached a predetermined position with relation to the printingmember" and insert the same after "member" and before the comma in line 58, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read. with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of October, A. D. 1911;

Henr5 Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

